Method and system for a transcoder

ABSTRACT

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a transcoder module having a controller to manage power distribution in the transcoder module from power supplied to an HDMI port of the transcoder module, transcode audio-visual information into a digital compatible format used on an external device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/209,017 filed Sep. 11, 2008, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to media devices and morespecifically to a method and system for a media processor.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Media processors such as today's digital set top boxes (STBs) decodedigital media signals supplied by a media communication system andprovide the decoded signal on a standard output port (such as a coaxialport, a composite video port, or a High Definition Multimedia Interfaceport). Typically, STBs operate in a customer premise and are generallyconfined to a location near a media presentation device such as ananalog or digital television set. STBs provide users the ability to viewmedia programs, movies, media guides and so on.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-4 depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems thatprovide media services;

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a portal interacting withat least one among the communication systems of FIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication deviceutilized in the communication systems of FIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method operating inportions of the communication systems of FIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 8 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a transcoder having an HDMIinterface in accordance with an embodiment herein; and

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, maycause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the present disclosure entails transcodingaudio-visual information supplied by an accessory device in a HighDefinition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) standard format received via anHDMI port in a set top box (STB) device to a format compatible with anexternal device, and generating a transcoded signal used forpresentation or storage of the audio visual information on the externaldevice.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure entails a computer-readablestorage medium having computer instructions for transcoding audio-visualinformation in an HDMI standard format received via an HDMI port in aportable battery operated set top box (STB) device to a formatcompatible with an external device. The format compatible with theexternal device can be user selectable or determined dynamically. Thestorage medium can further have computer instructions for generating asignal used for presentation or storage of the audio visual informationon the external device.

Yet another embodiment of the present disclosure entails a multimediadata interface module having a controller to manage power distributionin the multimedia data interface module from power supplied by an HDMIport and an embedded power supply, transcode audio-visual informationfrom the HDMI port into a compatible format for an external device, andtransmit through a network interface, the audio-visual information inthe compatible format for the external device.

Yet another embodiment of the present disclosure entails a system havinga controller to transcode audio-visual information in an HDMI standardformat, and generate a signal used for presentation or storage of theaudio visual information on an external device in a digital formatcompatible with the external device.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a first communicationsystem 100 for delivering media content. The communication system 100can represent an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) broadcast mediasystem. In a typical IPTV infrastructure, there is a super head-endoffice (SHO) with at least one super headend office server (SHS) whichreceives national media programs from satellite and/or media serversfrom service providers of multimedia broadcast channels. In the presentcontext, media programs can represent audio content, moving imagecontent such as videos, still image content, and/or combinationsthereof. The SHS server forwards IP packets associated with the mediacontent to video head-end servers (VHS) via a network of aggregationpoints such as video head-end offices (VHO) according to a commonmulticast communication method.

The VHS then distributes multimedia broadcast programs via an accessnetwork to commercial and/or residential buildings 102 housing a gateway104 (such as a residential gateway or RG). The access network canrepresent a bank of digital subscriber line access multiplexers (DSLAMs)located in a central office or a service area interface that providebroadband services over optical links or copper twisted pairs tobuildings 102. The gateway 104 distributes broadcast signals to mediaprocessors 106 such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn presentbroadcast selections to media devices 108 such as computers ortelevision sets managed in some instances by a media controller 107(such as an infrared or RF remote control). Unicast traffic can also beexchanged between the media processors 106 and subsystems of the IPTVmedia system for services such as video-on-demand (VoD). It will beappreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the media devices108 and/or portable communication devices 116 shown in FIG. 1 can be anintegral part of the media processor 106 and can be communicativelycoupled to the gateway 104. In this particular embodiment, an integraldevice such as described can receive, respond, process and presentmulticast or unicast media content.

The IPTV media system can be coupled to one or more computing devices130 a portion of which can operate as a web server for providing portalservices over an Internet Service Provider (ISP) network 132 to fixedline media devices 108 or portable communication devices 116 by way of awireless access point 117 providing Wireless Fidelity or WiFi services,or cellular communication services (such as GSM, CDMA, UMTS, WiMAX,etc.).

A satellite broadcast television system can be used in place of the IPTVmedia system. In this embodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite 115can be intercepted by a satellite dish receiver 131 coupled to building102 which conveys media signals to the media processors 106. The mediareceivers 106 can be equipped with a broadband port to the ISP network132. Although not shown, the communication system 100 can also becombined or replaced with analog or digital broadcast distributionssystems such as cable TV systems.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a second communicationsystem 200 for delivering media content. Communication system 200 can beoverlaid or operably coupled with communication system 100 as anotherrepresentative embodiment of said communication system. The system 200includes a distribution switch/router system 228 at a central office218. The distribution switch/router system 228 receives video data via amulticast television stream 230 from a second distribution switch/router234 at an intermediate office 220. The multicast television stream 230includes Internet Protocol (IP) data packets addressed to a multicast IPaddress associated with a television channel. The distributionswitch/router system 228 can cache data associated with each televisionchannel received from the intermediate office 220.

The distribution switch/router system 228 also receives unicast datatraffic from the intermediate office 220 via a unicast traffic stream232. The unicast traffic stream 232 includes data packets related todevices located at a particular customer premise, such as the residenceor customer premise 202. For example, the unicast traffic stream 232 caninclude data traffic related to a digital subscriber line, a telephoneline, another data connection, or any combination thereof. Toillustrate, the unicast traffic stream 232 can communicate data packetsto and from a telephone 212 associated with a subscriber at theresidence 202. The telephone 212 can be a Voice over Internet Protocol(VoIP) telephone. To further illustrate, the unicast traffic stream 232can communicate data packets to and from a personal computer 210 at theresidence 202 via one or more data routers 208. In an additionalillustration, the unicast traffic stream 232 can communicate datapackets to and from a set-top box device, such as the set-top boxdevices 204, 206. The unicast traffic stream 232 can communicate datapackets to and from the devices located at the residence 202 via one ormore residential gateways 214 associated with the residence 202.

The distribution switch/router system 228 can send data to one or moreaccess switch/router systems 226. The access switch/router system 226can include or be included within a service area interface 216. In aparticular embodiment, the access switch/router system 226 can include aDSLAM. The access switch/router system 226 can receive data from thedistribution switch/router system 228 via a broadcast television (BTV)stream 222 and a plurality of unicast subscriber traffic streams 224.The BTV stream 222 can be used to communicate video data packetsassociated with a multicast stream.

For example, the BTV stream 222 can include a multicast virtual localarea network (VLAN) connection between the distribution switch/routersystem 228 and the access switch/router system 226. Each of theplurality of subscriber traffic streams 224 can be used to communicatesubscriber specific data packets. For example, the first subscribertraffic stream can communicate data related to a first subscriber, andthe nth subscriber traffic stream can communicate data related to an nthsubscriber. Each subscriber to the system 200 can be associated with arespective subscriber traffic stream 224. The subscriber traffic stream224 can include a subscriber VLAN connection between the distributionswitch/router system 228 and the access switch/router system 226 that isassociated with a particular set-top box device 204, 206, a particularresidence 202, a particular residential gateway 214, another deviceassociated with a subscriber, or any combination thereof.

In an illustrative embodiment, a set-top box device, such as the set-topbox device 204, receives a channel change command from an input device,such as a remoter control device. The channel change command canindicate selection of an IPTV channel. After receiving the channelchange command, the set-top box device 204 generates channel selectiondata that indicates the selection of the IPTV channel. The set-top boxdevice 204 can send the channel selection data to the accessswitch/router system 226 via the residential gateway 214. The channelselection data can include an Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP)Join request. In an illustrative embodiment, the access switch/routersystem 226 can identify whether it is joined to a multicast groupassociated with the requested channel based on information in the IGMPJoin request.

If the access switch/router system 226 is not joined to the multicastgroup associated with the requested channel, the access switch/routersystem 226 can generate a multicast stream request. The multicast streamrequest can be generated by modifying the received channel selectiondata. In an illustrative embodiment, the access switch/router system 226can modify an IGMP Join request to produce a proxy IGMP Join request.The access switch/router system 226 can send the multicast streamrequest to the distribution switch/router system 228 via the BTV stream222. In response to receiving the multicast stream request, thedistribution switch/router system 228 can send a stream associated withthe requested channel to the access switch/router system 226 via the BTVstream 222.

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a third communicationsystem 300 for delivering media content. Communication system 300 can beoverlaid or operably coupled with communication systems 100-200 asanother representative embodiment of said communication systems. Asshown, the system 300 can include a client facing tier 302, anapplication tier 304, an acquisition tier 306, and an operations andmanagement tier 308. Each tier 302, 304, 306, 308 is coupled to aprivate network 310, such as a network of common packet-switched routersand/or switches; to a public network 312, such as the Internet; or toboth the private network 310 and the public network 312. For example,the client-facing tier 302 can be coupled to the private network 310.Further, the application tier 304 can be coupled to the private network310 and to the public network 312. The acquisition tier 306 can also becoupled to the private network 310 and to the public network 312.Additionally, the operations and management tier 308 can be coupled tothe public network 312.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the various tiers 302, 304, 306, 308communicate with each other via the private network 310 and the publicnetwork 312. For instance, the client-facing tier 302 can communicatewith the application tier 304 and the acquisition tier 306 via theprivate network 310. The application tier 304 can communicate with theacquisition tier 306 via the private network 310. Further, theapplication tier 304 can communicate with the acquisition tier 306 andthe operations and management tier 308 via the public network 312.Moreover, the acquisition tier 306 can communicate with the operationsand management tier 308 via the public network 312. In a particularembodiment, elements of the application tier 304, including, but notlimited to, a client gateway 350, can communicate directly with theclient-facing tier 302.

The client-facing tier 302 can communicate with user equipment via anaccess network 366, such as an IPTV access network. In an illustrativeembodiment, customer premises equipment (CPE) 314, 322 can be coupled toa local switch, router, or other device of the access network 366. Theclient-facing tier 302 can communicate with a first representativeset-top box device 316 via the first CPE 314 and with a secondrepresentative set-top box device 324 via the second CPE 322. In aparticular embodiment, the first representative set-top box device 316and the first CPE 314 can be located at a first customer premise, andthe second representative set-top box device 324 and the second CPE 322can be located at a second customer premise.

In another particular embodiment, the first representative set-top boxdevice 316 and the second representative set-top box device 324 can belocated at a single customer premise, both coupled to one of the CPE314, 322. The CPE 314, 322 can include routers, local area networkdevices, modems, such as digital subscriber line (DSL) modems, any othersuitable devices for facilitating communication between a set-top boxdevice and the access network 366, or any combination thereof.

In an illustrative embodiment, the client-facing tier 302 can be coupledto the CPE 314, 322 via fiber optic cables. In another illustrativeembodiment, the CPE 314, 322 can include DSL modems that are coupled toone or more network nodes via twisted pairs, and the client-facing tier302 can be coupled to the network nodes via fiber-optic cables. Eachset-top box device 316, 324 can process data received via the accessnetwork 366, via a common IPTV software platform.

The first set-top box device 316 can be coupled to a first externaldisplay device, such as a first television monitor 318, and the secondset-top box device 324 can be coupled to a second external displaydevice, such as a second television monitor 326. Moreover, the firstset-top box device 316 can communicate with a first remote control 320,and the second set-top box device 324 can communicate with a secondremote control 328. The set-top box devices 316, 324 can include IPTVset-top box devices; video gaming devices or consoles that are adaptedto receive IPTV content; personal computers or other computing devicesthat are adapted to emulate set-top box device functionalities; anyother device adapted to receive IPTV content and transmit data to anIPTV system via an access network; or any combination thereof.

In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, each set-top box device316, 324 can receive data, video, or any combination thereof, from theclient-facing tier 302 via the access network 366 and render or displaythe data, video, or any combination thereof, at the display device 318,326 to which it is coupled. In an illustrative embodiment, the set-topbox devices 316, 324 can include tuners that receive and decodetelevision programming signals or packet streams for transmission to thedisplay devices 318, 326. Further, the set-top box devices 316, 324 caneach include a STB processor 370 and a STB memory device 372 that isaccessible to the STB processor 370. In one embodiment, a computerprogram, such as the STB computer program 374, can be embedded withinthe STB memory device 372.

In an illustrative embodiment, the client-facing tier 302 can include aclient-facing tier (CFT) switch 330 that manages communication betweenthe client-facing tier 302 and the access network 366 and between theclient-facing tier 302 and the private network 310. As illustrated, theCFT switch 330 is coupled to one or more distribution servers, such asDistribution-servers (D-servers) 332, that store, format, encode,replicate, or otherwise manipulate or prepare video content forcommunication from the client-facing tier 302 to the set-top box devices316, 324. The CFT switch 330 can also be coupled to a terminal server334 that provides terminal devices with a point of connection to theIPTV system 300 via the client-facing tier 302.

In a particular embodiment, the CFT switch 330 can be coupled to a VoDserver 336 that stores or provides VoD content imported by the IPTVsystem 300. Further, the CFT switch 330 is coupled to one or more videoservers 380 that receive video content and transmit the content to theset-top boxes 316, 324 via the access network 366. The client-facingtier 302 may include a CPE management server 382 that managescommunications to and from the CPE 314 and the CPE 322. For example, theCPE management server 382 may collect performance data associated withthe set-top box devices 316, 324 from the CPE 314 or the CPE 322 andforward the collected performance data to a server associated with theoperations and management tier 308.

In an illustrative embodiment, the client-facing tier 302 cancommunicate with a large number of set-top boxes, such as therepresentative set-top boxes 316, 324, over a wide geographic area, suchas a metropolitan area, a viewing area, a statewide area, a regionalarea, a nationwide area or any other suitable geographic area, marketarea, or subscriber or customer group that can be supported bynetworking the client-facing tier 302 to numerous set-top box devices.In a particular embodiment, the CFT switch 330, or any portion thereof,can include a multicast router or switch that communicates with multipleset-top box devices via a multicast-enabled network.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the application tier 304 can communicate withboth the private network 310 and the public network 312. The applicationtier 304 can include a first application tier (APP) switch 338 and asecond APP switch 340. In a particular embodiment, the first APP switch338 can be coupled to the second APP switch 340. The first APP switch338 can be coupled to an application server 342 and to an OSS/BSSgateway 344. In a particular embodiment, the application server 342 canprovide applications to the set-top box devices 316, 324 via the accessnetwork 366, which enable the set-top box devices 316, 324 to providefunctions, such as interactive program guides, video gaming, display,messaging, processing of VoD material and other IPTV content, etc. In anillustrative embodiment, the application server 342 can provide locationinformation to the set-top box devices 316, 324. In a particularembodiment, the OSS/BSS gateway 344 includes operation systems andsupport (OSS) data, as well as billing systems and support (BSS) data.In one embodiment, the OSS/BSS gateway 344 can provide or restrictaccess to an OSS/BSS server 364 that stores operations and billingsystems data.

The second APP switch 340 can be coupled to a domain controller 346 thatprovides Internet access, for example, to users at their computers 368via the public network 312. For example, the domain controller 346 canprovide remote Internet access to IPTV account information, e-mail,personalized Internet services, or other online services via the publicnetwork 312. In addition, the second APP switch 340 can be coupled to asubscriber and system store 348 that includes account information, suchas account information that is associated with users who access the IPTVsystem 300 via the private network 310 or the public network 312. In anillustrative embodiment, the subscriber and system store 348 can storesubscriber or customer data and create subscriber or customer profilesthat are associated with IP addresses, stock-keeping unit (SKU) numbers,other identifiers, or any combination thereof, of corresponding set-topbox devices 316, 324. In another illustrative embodiment, the subscriberand system store can store data associated with capabilities of set-topbox devices associated with particular customers.

In a particular embodiment, the application tier 304 can include aclient gateway 350 that communicates data directly to the client-facingtier 302. In this embodiment, the client gateway 350 can be coupleddirectly to the CFT switch 330. The client gateway 350 can provide useraccess to the private network 310 and the tiers coupled thereto. In anillustrative embodiment, the set-top box devices 316, 324 can access theIPTV system 300 via the access network 366, using information receivedfrom the client gateway 350. User devices can access the client gateway350 via the access network 366, and the client gateway 350 can allowsuch devices to access the private network 310 once the devices areauthenticated or verified. Similarly, the client gateway 350 can preventunauthorized devices, such as hacker computers or stolen set-top boxdevices from accessing the private network 310, by denying access tothese devices beyond the access network 366.

For example, when the first representative set-top box device 316accesses the client-facing tier 302 via the access network 366, theclient gateway 350 can verify subscriber information by communicatingwith the subscriber and system store 348 via the private network 310.Further, the client gateway 350 can verify billing information andstatus by communicating with the OSS/BSS gateway 344 via the privatenetwork 310. In one embodiment, the OSS/BSS gateway 344 can transmit aquery via the public network 312 to the OSS/BSS server 364. After theclient gateway 350 confirms subscriber and/or billing information, theclient gateway 350 can allow the set-top box device 316 to access IPTVcontent and VoD content at the client-facing tier 302. If the clientgateway 350 cannot verify subscriber information for the set-top boxdevice 316, e.g., because it is connected to an unauthorized twistedpair, the client gateway 350 can block transmissions to and from theset-top box device 316 beyond the access network 366.

As indicated in FIG. 3, the acquisition tier 306 includes an acquisitiontier (AQT) switch 352 that communicates with the private network 310.The AQT switch 352 can also communicate with the operations andmanagement tier 308 via the public network 312. In a particularembodiment, the AQT switch 352 can be coupled to one or more liveAcquisition-servers (A-servers) 354 that receive or acquire televisioncontent, movie content, advertisement content, other video content, orany combination thereof, from a broadcast service 356, such as asatellite acquisition system or satellite head-end office. In aparticular embodiment, the live acquisition server 354 can transmitcontent to the AQT switch 352, and the AQT switch 352 can transmit thecontent to the CFT switch 330 via the private network 310.

In an illustrative embodiment, content can be transmitted to theD-servers 332, where it can be encoded, formatted, stored, replicated,or otherwise manipulated and prepared for communication from the videoserver(s) 380 to the set-top box devices 316, 324. The CFT switch 330can receive content from the video server(s) 380 and communicate thecontent to the CPE 314, 322 via the access network 366. The set-top boxdevices 316, 324 can receive the content via the CPE 314, 322, and cantransmit the content to the television monitors 318, 326. In anillustrative embodiment, video or audio portions of the content can bestreamed to the set-top box devices 316, 324.

Further, the AQT switch 352 can be coupled to a video-on-demand importerserver 358 that receives and stores television or movie content receivedat the acquisition tier 306 and communicates the stored content to theVoD server 336 at the client-facing tier 302 via the private network310. Additionally, at the acquisition tier 306, the VoD importer server358 can receive content from one or more VoD sources outside the IPTVsystem 300, such as movie studios and programmers of non-live content.The VoD importer server 358 can transmit the VoD content to the AQTswitch 352, and the AQT switch 352, in turn, can communicate thematerial to the CFT switch 330 via the private network 310. The VoDcontent can be stored at one or more servers, such as the VoD server336.

When users issue requests for VoD content via the set-top box devices316, 324, the requests can be transmitted over the access network 366 tothe VoD server 336, via the CFT switch 330. Upon receiving suchrequests, the VoD server 336 can retrieve the requested VoD content andtransmit the content to the set-top box devices 316, 324 across theaccess network 366, via the CFT switch 330. The set-top box devices 316,324 can transmit the VoD content to the television monitors 318, 326. Inan illustrative embodiment, video or audio portions of VoD content canbe streamed to the set-top box devices 316, 324.

FIG. 3 further illustrates that the operations and management tier 308can include an operations and management tier (OMT) switch 360 thatconducts communication between the operations and management tier 308and the public network 312. In the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 3, theOMT switch 360 is coupled to a TV2 server 362. Additionally, the OMTswitch 360 can be coupled to an OSS/BSS server 364 and to a simplenetwork management protocol monitor 386 that monitors network deviceswithin or coupled to the IPTV system 300. In a particular embodiment,the OMT switch 360 can communicate with the AQT switch 352 via thepublic network 312.

The OSS/BSS server 364 may include a cluster of servers, such as one ormore CPE data collection servers that are adapted to request and storeoperations systems data, such as performance data from the set-top boxdevices 316, 324. In an illustrative embodiment, the CPE data collectionservers may be adapted to analyze performance data to identify acondition of a physical component of a network path associated with aset-top box device, to predict a condition of a physical component of anetwork path associated with a set-top box device, or any combinationthereof.

In an illustrative embodiment, the live acquisition server 354 cantransmit content to the AQT switch 352, and the AQT switch 352, in turn,can transmit the content to the OMT switch 360 via the public network312. In this embodiment, the OMT switch 360 can transmit the content tothe TV2 server 362 for display to users accessing the user interface atthe TV2 server 362. For example, a user can access the TV2 server 362using a personal computer 368 coupled to the public network 312.

It should be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from theforegoing media communication system embodiments that other suitablemedia communication systems for distributing broadcast media content aswell as peer-to-peer exchange of content can be applied to the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system 400employing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture.Communication system 400 can be overlaid or operably coupled withcommunication systems 100-300 as another representative embodiment ofsaid communication systems.

The communication system 400 can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)440, a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server 430, and network elementsof an IMS network 450. The IMS network 450 can be coupled to IMScompliant communication devices (CD) 401, 402 or a Public SwitchedTelephone Network (PSTN) CD 403 using a Media Gateway Control Function(MGCF) 420 that connects the call through a common PSTN network 460.

IMS CDs 401, 402 register with the IMS network 450 by contacting a ProxyCall Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which communicates with acorresponding Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with anAuthentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) supported by the HSS440. To accomplish a communication session between CDs, an originatingIMS CD 401 can submit a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP INVITE) messageto an originating P-CSCF 404 which communicates with a correspondingoriginating S-CSCF 406. The originating S-CSCF 406 can submit the SIPINVITE message to an application server (AS) such as reference 410 thatcan provide a variety of services to IMS subscribers. For example, theapplication server 410 can be used to perform originating treatmentfunctions on the calling party number received by the originating S-CSCF406 in the SIP INVITE message.

Originating treatment functions can include determining whether thecalling party number has international calling services, and/or isrequesting special telephony features (such as, *72 forward calls, *73cancel call forwarding, *67 for caller ID blocking, and so on).Additionally, the originating S-CSCF 406 can submit queries to the ENUMsystem 430 to translate an E.164 telephone number to a SIP UniformResource Identifier (URI) if the targeted communication device is IMScompliant. If the targeted communication device is a PSTN device, theENUM system 430 will respond with an unsuccessful address resolution andthe S-CSCF 406 will forward the call to the MGCF 420 via a BreakoutGateway Control Function (BGCF) 419.

When the ENUM server 430 returns a SIP URI, the SIP URI is used by anInterrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) 407 to submit a query to the HSS 440 toidentify a terminating S-CSCF 414 associated with a terminating IMS CDsuch as reference 402. Once identified, the I-CSCF 407 can submit theSIP INVITE to the terminating S-CSCF 414 which can call on anapplication server 411 similar to reference 410 to perform theoriginating treatment telephony functions described earlier. Theterminating S-CSCF 414 can then identify a terminating P-CSCF 416associated with the terminating CD 402. The P-CSCF 416 then signals theCD 402 to establish communications. The aforementioned process issymmetrical. Accordingly, the terms “originating” and “terminating” inFIG. 4 can be interchanged.

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a portal 530. The portal530 can be used for managing services of communication systems 100-400.The portal 530 can be accessed by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) witha common Internet browser such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer using anInternet-capable communication device such as references 108, 116, or210 of FIGS. 1-2. The portal 530 can be configured to access a mediaprocessor such as references 106, 204, 206, 316, and 324 of FIGS. 1-3and services managed thereby such as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), anElectronic Programming Guide (EPG), VoD catalog, a personal catalogstored in the STB (such as personal videos, pictures, audio recordings,etc.), and so on.

FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication device 600.Communication device 600 can be a representative portion of any of theaforementioned communication devices of FIGS. 1-4. The communicationdevice 604 can comprise a wireline and/or wireless transceiver 602(herein transceiver 602), a user interface (UI) 604, a power supply 614,and a controller 606 for managing operations thereof. The transceiver602 can support short-range or long-range wireless access technologiessuch as a Bluetooth wireless access protocol, a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi)access protocol, a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT)wireless access protocol, cellular, software defined radio (SDR) and/orWiMAX technologies, just to mention a few. Cellular technologies caninclude, for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO,and next generation technologies as they arise.

The transceiver 602 can also support common wireline access technologiessuch as circuit-switched wireline access technologies, packet-switchedwireline access technologies, or combinations thereof PSTN can representone of the common circuit-switched wireline access technologies. Voiceover Internet Protocol (VoIP), and IP data communications can representsome of the commonly available packet-switched wireline accesstechnologies. The transceiver 602 can also be adapted to support IPMultimedia Subsystem (IMS) protocol for interfacing to an IMS networkthat can combine PSTN and VoIP communication technologies.

The UI 604 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 608 and anavigation mechanism such as a roller ball, joystick, mouse, and/ornavigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device600. The keypad 608 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of thecommunication device 600 or an independent device operably coupledthereto by a tethered wiring interface (such as USB) or a wirelessinterface supporting for example Bluetooth. The keypad 608 can representa numeric dialing keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a Qwerty keypadwith alphanumeric keys.

The UI 604 can further include a display 610 such as monochrome or colorLCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) orother suitable display technology for conveying images to the end userof the communication device 600. In an embodiment where the display 610is touch-sensitive, a portion or all of the keypad 608 can be presentedby way of the display. The UI 604 can also include an audio system 612that utilizes common audio technology for conveying low volume audio(such as audio heard only in the proximity of a human ear) and highvolume audio (such as speakerphone for hands free operation). The audiosystem 612 can further include a microphone for receiving audiblesignals of an end user.

The power supply 614 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and charging system technologies for supplying energy tothe components of the communication device 600 to facilitate long-rangeor short-range portable applications. The controller 606 can utilizecomputing technologies such as a microprocessor and/or digital signalprocessor (DSP) with associated storage memory such a Flash, ROM, RAM,SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies.

FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative method 700 operating in portions ofcommunication systems 100-400. Method 700 begins with step 702 in whicha portable standalone device such as a portable STB device can transcodeaudio-visual information from a HDMI standard format in a mobileenvironment to another digital format compatible with an externaldevice. At step 704, the portable device can generate a signal used forpresentation or storage of the audio visual information on an externaldevice such as a PDA, a PC, a lap top, a hard drive or other storagedevice. The portable device can receive power when coupled to an AVsource through an HDMI port which further transmits the signalcontaining audio-visual information in the HDMI standard format to atranscoder at step 706. The portable device can interface with acommunication network via a network interface at step 708. At step 710,the method can receive a signal source for transcoding via the HDMI portor HDMI connector. At step 712, the portable device can storeaudiovisual content in a digital video recorder hard drive within theportable device. At step 714, the portable device can be powered with arechargeable battery that is trickle charged using an HDMI input port ofthe AV Source signal. Optionally, at decision step 716, the method 700can detect whether the HDMI port receives power from an external sourceenabling such trickle charging of the rechargeable battery. If the HDMIport has power from an external source (such as from an HDMI input portof DVR, STB or other video source device), then the rechargeable batteryis trickle charged at step 718. If no external power source or noappropriate power source is detected at decision step 716, then therechargeable battery can solely power the portable STB device at step720.

Referring to FIG. 8, a portable device 750 such as a portable STB or atranscoder module can be any Digital STBs used by cable serviceproviders, Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) service providers and IPTVservice providers that provide entertainment video and other multimediaservices that further include the novel enhancements described herein.The portable device 750 can include for example a digital STB ortranscoder module 752 having a network interface 754, a video and audiotranscoder engine 758 in the form of a integrated system on chip or SoC,memory 756 (such as DRAM or Flash memory), and optionally one or moregeneral purpose processors (not shown). The transcoder module can decodeHDMI information and then encode such information into other compatibledigital formats as needed depending on the device the transcoderinterfaces with. Similarly, the transcoder can take digital informationfrom a non-HDMI digital source and transcode (or decode and then encode)the information into HDMI format. The portable device 750 can alsoinclude an optional internal power supply 759 that can come in the formof rechargeable batteries. The Network Interface 754 can be eitherwireless or wireline or both. A wireless 802.1 in or any other wirelessnetworking technology that delivers multimedia content from this unit toan external device can be used. A dedicate integrated circuit canprovide network processing and interface functionality for the unit. Theunit can use any wireline technology such as Ethernet, Home PhonelineNetworking Alliance (HPNA) technology, Multimedia over Coax Alliance(MoCA) technology, and Powerline technology (HomePlug) as examples. Thedevice 750 can further include an HDMI connector 760 which communicateswith the video and audio transcoder engine 758. The HDMI connector 760can connect to any number of video or multimedia sources such as an STB,DVR or DVD player. The AN transcoder engine 768 can provide the audioand video transcoding functionality as well as the creation of anexternal device compliant digital stream that is transmitted via thenetwork interface 754 to the receiving external device. Thus, transcodedcontent from HDMI format to other digital formats can be provided fromthe AV transcoder engine 768 to any number of devices such as personaldigital assistants, cell phones, portable video players, personalcomputers, lap tops, media streaming devices, and storage devices

The portable device 750 can also include analog video outputs such ascomposite, component, and S-video outputs, analog audio outputs, digitalaudio outputs, and an optional hard drive for DVR functionality. Theoptional hard drive for DVR functionality can be the memory 756. Theportable device can also optionally include a USB interface and a powersupply as discussed above the powers the portable device usingrechargeable batteries or non-rechargeable batteries. Typically, all TVsets and other HDMI based consumer products can provide enough inlinepower through the HDMI interface for the portable digital STB tooperate. Today, active devices, such as actively powered HDMI cables orin-line signal extender boxes, will by default attempt to power theirelectronics by taking power from the 5V line (+5V power) available onthe HDMI connector. The HDMI specification requires all source devicesto provide at least 55 mA (milliamps) on the 5V line for the purpose ofreading the EDID of a display. While 55 mA is not enough current tooperate some HDMI accessory devices (which typically require more than100 mA), most source devices on the market today provide significantlymore current on the 5V line than the HDMI specification requires. As aresult, today the vast majority of HDMI accessory devices can operatewhen interfaced with a source device that provides more than therequired current on the 5V line. The portable device will be able to bepowered through the HDMI connector from video source device. An optionalDC power supply can also be designed to provide power in some caseswhere enough power is not available through inline HMDI poweringsolution.

Typically, the physical size of a STB is similar to the size of a DVDplayer and is not designed to be a portable unit. The HDMI interface isused by all new High Definition (HD) television sets to transport veryhigh quality high definition and standard definition (SD) content (videoand audio), but has not been used on STBs. Note that the physical sizeand form factor of the HDMI interface is similar to a USB Interface.Thus, a new portable HDMI-based digital STB as embodied herein can pluginto any HDMI input of a TV or other presentation device and can beprimarily powered inline through the HDMI interface from the TV set orany other audio/video units with HDMI capability.

Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to anartisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can bemodified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope andspirit of the claims described below. For example, the portable STBdevice can have non-rechargeable replaceable batteries or canpotentially be powered solely by an external device having an HDMI inputport. The information decoded and presented can be audio only, videoonly, or audio-visual content. The portable device can be a digital settop box, but can also be embodied by a digital video recording device orother storage device capable of storing digital content. Further notethat the network interface can be wired or wireless.

Other suitable modifications can be applied to the present disclosurewithout departing from the scope of the claims below. Accordingly, thereader is directed to the claims section for a fuller understanding ofthe breadth and scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 depicts an illustrative diagrammatic representation of a machinein the form of a computer system 800 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed above. In some embodiments, the machine operatesas a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may beconnected (such as using a network) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient user machine in server-client user network environment, or as apeer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or anymachine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a device of the present disclosure includes broadly anyelectronic device that provides voice, video or data communication.Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shallalso be taken to include any collection of machines that individually orjointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform anyone or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The computer system 800 may include a processor 802 (such as, a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a mainmemory 804 and a static memory 806, which communicate with each othervia a bus 808. The computer system 800 may further include a videodisplay unit 810 (such as, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel,a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system800 may include an input device 812 (such as a keyboard), a cursorcontrol device 814 (such as a mouse), a disk drive unit 816, a signalgeneration device 818 (such as a speaker or remote control) and anetwork interface device 820.

The disk drive unit 816 may include a computer-readable medium 822 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions (such as software 824)embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions 824may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the mainmemory 804, the static memory 806, and/or within the processor 802during execution thereof by the computer system 800. The main memory 804and the processor 802 also may constitute computer-readable media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatusand systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety ofelectronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions intwo or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices withrelated control and data signals communicated between and through themodules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, andhardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation as software programsrunning on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementationscan include, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

The present disclosure contemplates a machine readable medium containinginstructions 824, or that which receives and executes instructions 824from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a networkenvironment 826 can send or receive voice, video or data, and tocommunicate over the network 826 using the instructions 824. Theinstructions 824 may further be transmitted or received over a network826 via the network interface device 820.

While the computer-readable medium 822 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “computer-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (such as acentralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches andservers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any mediumthat is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructionsfor execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform anyone or more of the methodologies of the present disclosure.

The term “computer-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken toinclude, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memorycard or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile)memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile)memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape;and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail or other self-containedinformation archive or set of archives is considered a distributionmedium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, thedisclosure is considered to include any one or more of acomputer-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listed herein andincluding art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which thesoftware implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (such as TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodicallysuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocolshaving the same functions are considered equivalents.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representationaland may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merelyfor convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope ofthis application to any single invention or inventive concept if morethan one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments havebeen illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in theforegoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features aregrouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than allfeatures of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims arehereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

1. A method, comprising: transcoding audio-visual information suppliedby a television in a high definition multimedia interface standardformat received via a high definition multimedia interface port in aportable set top box device to a first format compatible with a firstexternal device, wherein the first format compatible with the firstexternal device is determined dynamically; storing the first format ofthe transcoded audio-visual information in a memory of the portable settop box device; generating a first transcoded signal from the firstformat of the transcoded audiovisual information for storage of theaudio visual information on the first external device; determining ifthe first external device has a capacity to trickle charge batteries ofthe portable set top box device; trickle charging batteries of the settop box device using power supplied by the television via the highdefinition multimedia interface port responsive to a determination thatthe first external device has the capacity to trickle charge; providingthe first transcoded signal to the first external device responsive tothe portable set top box being coupled with the first external devicevia a network interface in the portable set top box; transcoding theaudio-visual information to a second format compatible with a secondexternal device; storing the second format of the transcodedaudio-visual information in the memory of the portable set top box;generating a second transcoded signal from the second format of thetranscoded audio-visual information for storage of the audio visualinformation on the second external device, wherein the second formatcompatible with the second external device is determined dynamically;determining if the second external device has a capacity to tricklecharge batteries of the portable set top box device; trickle chargingbatteries of the set top box device using power supplied by thetelevision via the high definition multimedia interface port responsiveto a determination that the second external device has the capacity totrickle charge; providing the second transcoded signal to the secondexternal device responsive to the portable set top box being coupledwith the second external device via the network interface in theportable set top box; coupling the portable set top box with a poweroutlet; receiving data at the portable set top box via the power outlet;and enabling the portable set top box to be utilized as an end userdevice for voice communications.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thenetwork interface enables wireless and wireline communications.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the first external device is a personaldigital assistant.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first externaldevice is a personal computer.
 5. The method of claim 1, comprisingreceiving a signal source for transcoding via the high definitionmultimedia interface port which is a high definition multimediainterface connector.
 6. The method of claim 1, comprising storingaudio-visual content in a digital video recorder hard drive within theset top box device.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first formatcompatible with the first external device is user selectable.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, comprising generating the first transcoded signalfrom the first format of the transcoded audiovisual information forpresentation of the audio visual information on the first externaldevice.
 9. The method of claim 1, comprising generating the secondtranscoded signal from the second format of the transcoded audio-visualinformation for presentation of the audio visual information on thesecond external device.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondformat compatible with the second external device is user selectable.11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprisingcomputer instructions which, responsive to being executed by aprocessor, cause the processor to perform operations, comprising:transcoding audio-visual information supplied by a television in a highdefinition multimedia interface standard format received via a highdefinition multimedia interface port in a portable set top box device toa first format compatible with a first external device, wherein thefirst format compatible with the first external device is userselectable; storing the first format of the transcoded audio-visualinformation in a memory of the portable set top box device; generating afirst transcoded signal from the first format of the transcodedaudiovisual information for presentation of the audio visual informationon the first external device; determining if the first external devicehas a capacity to trickle charge batteries of the portable set top boxdevice; trickle charging batteries of the set top box device using powersupplied by the television via the high definition multimedia interfaceport when a determination is made that the first external device has thecapacity to trickle charge; providing the first transcoded signal to thefirst external device when the portable set top box is coupled with thefirst external device via a network interface in the portable set topbox; transcoding the audio-visual information to a second formatcompatible with a second external device; storing the second format ofthe transcoded audio-visual information in the memory of the portableset top box; generating a second transcoded signal from the secondformat of the transcoded audio-visual information for presentation ofthe audio visual information on the second external device, wherein thesecond format compatible with the second external device is userselectable; determining if the second external device has a capacity totrickle charge batteries of the portable set top box device; tricklecharging batteries of the set top box device using power supplied by thetelevision via the high definition multimedia interface port responsiveto a determination that the second external device has the capacity totrickle charge; providing the second transcoded signal to the secondexternal device responsive to the portable set top box being coupledwith the second external device via the network interface in theportable set top box; and enabling the portable set top box to beutilized as an end user device for voice communications.
 12. Thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, comprisingcomputer instructions for: enabling the portable set top box device tobe partially powered through the high definition multimedia interfaceport when coupled to a high definition multimedia interface compatiblesource device through the high definition multimedia interface port. 13.The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, whereinthe high definition multimedia interface compatible source device is ahigh definition digital video recorder having a high definitionmultimedia interface output.
 14. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium of claim 11, comprising computer instructions forenabling the portable set top box to receive data via a power outletwhen the portable set top box is coupled with the power outlet.
 15. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein thenetwork interface enables wireless and wireline communications.
 16. Asystem, comprising: a memory to store computer instructions; arechargeable battery; and a portable controller device integrally formedwith and coupled to the memory and the rechargeable battery, wherein theportable controller device, responsive to executing the computerinstructions, performs operations comprising: transcoding audio-visualinformation supplied by a television in a high definition multimediainterface standard format received via a high definition multimediainterface port of the portable controller device to a first formatcompatible with a first external device, wherein the first formatcompatible with the first external device is user selectable ordetermined dynamically; storing the first format of the transcodedaudio-visual information in the memory; generating a first transcodedsignal from the first format of the transcoded audiovisual informationfor presentation of the audio visual information on the first externaldevice; determining if the first external device has a capacity totrickle charge the rechargeable battery; trickle charging therechargeable battery using power supplied by the television via the highdefinition multimedia interface port responsive to a determination thatthe first external device has the capacity to trickle charge; providingthe first transcoded signal to the first external device responsive tothe portable controller device being coupled with the first externaldevice via a network interface in the portable controller device,wherein the network interface enables wireless and wirelinecommunications; transcoding the audio-visual information to a secondformat compatible with a second external device; storing the secondformat of the transcoded audio-visual information in the memory;generating a second transcoded signal from the second format of thetranscoded audio-visual information for presentation or storage of theaudio visual information on the second external device, wherein thesecond format compatible with the second external device is userselectable or determined dynamically; determining if the second externaldevice has a capacity to trickle charge the rechargeable battery;trickle charging the rechargeable battery using power supplied by thetelevision via the high definition multimedia interface port responsiveto a determination that the second external device has the capacity totrickle charge; providing the second transcoded signal to the secondexternal device responsive to the portable controller device beingcoupled with the second external device via the network interface;enabling the portable controller device to be utilized as an end userdevice for voice communications, wherein the portable controller deviceis operable to enable receiving data via a power outlet when theportable controller device is coupled with the power outlet; andenabling the portable controller device to be partially powered throughthe high definition multimedia interface port when coupled to a highdefinition multimedia interface compatible source device through thehigh definition multimedia interface port.
 17. The system of claim 16,further comprising a system on chip video and audio transcoder.
 18. Thesystem of claim 16, wherein the high definition multimedia interfacecompatible source device is a high definition digital video recorderhaving a high definition multimedia interface output.
 19. The system ofclaim 16, wherein the first external device is a personal digitalassistant.
 20. The system of claim 16, wherein the first external deviceis a personal computer.